My five wonderful weeks in Paris have come to an end, and they
went by a lot faster than I expected! Though it’s been finals week
over here (a stressful time!), I still made sure to cram in some
last-minute sightseeing before I leave this beautiful city.
First, I’ve got to tell you about a guest lecturer that came to
the Religions of the World class earlier this week: a French priest
who performs exorcisms. Yes, a real-life priest who liberates those
who are possessed by evil spirits – how cool is that? He was really
interesting and his speech touched on a number of spiritual topics.
His words were thought-provoking, and I found it fascinating to
hear exorcism discussed in theological terms and not like it’s
constantly portrayed in Hollywood.
What I did outside the classroom was just as interesting. Since
this was my last week in France, I made sure to get in one trip to
the Louvre Museum, a
must-see when you’re in Paris. There’s an art piece there in
particular that’s especially worth seeing – you may have heard of
it – called the Mona Lisa! The old cliché is definitely true: you
can lose yourself staring at her mysterious smile. Walking through
the huge hallways of the Louvre was exhausting, but it was worth it
to see that Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece.
The Christian Dior
Exhibit at the Louvre -Video
My favorite pieces of art were the ones from Egypt and the
Mediterranean. The reason for that is I feel the creativity and
skill needed to make those works are unparalleled and superior to
any of today’s contemporary artists. For any of you going to Paris,
be sure to check out the Louvre and all it has to offer! You won’t
regret it.
The Louvre
Museum - Photo gallery
I ended my week in epic fashion by visiting the church where St.
Vincent de Paul’s body is held. He’s such an important figure whose
impact on the world was so far-reaching. Seeing his body and
meeting some of the Daughters of Charity reminded me how important
it is that we fill our lives with service and compassion. Those
timeless virtues, preached so often by St. Vincent de Paul, not
only encourage us to help others, but lead to our own personal
growth as well.
Overall, Paris has been a great time and provided me with a
number of memorable moments. I checked out the city’s fantastic
contribution to the arts, reflected on European society, performed
acts of service and enjoyed some of the delectable treats found
throughout the coffee shops and restaurants. Though I’m sad to be
leaving, I know that Spain will bring lots of new experiences and
will be another beautiful country for me to discover!